Chapter 27: Exterminate them all.

With Madam Xie making arrangements for them, everything was settled.

The four people waited at the Xie residence. When it was almost time, Madam Xie led them through the courtyard and onto the water platform built behind the house, overlooking the river.

"The old boatman specializes in this waterway. He's an excellent helmsman, but he's deaf and mute, so he can't answer any questions. When you reach the Bronze Water Village, go down the steps. The Ghost Market opens at midnight and closes at 1-3 AM, only for one hour. Don't linger too long, and be sure to return before it closes," Madam Xie instructed incessantly. "Whether you're looking for goods or people, don't trust anyone who approaches you. That place is incredibly corrupt, and there's no law to govern it. If you lose your trail there, you might never come back."

Shimi nodded in agreement, but then a question suddenly popped into his head: "Are there any people in the Ghost Market who know about mechanical arts?"

Madam Xie said, "The Mo family's mechanical arts? I've seen repeating crossbows and wooden eagles, and there's also the Lu Ban technique, which allows people to control wooden puppets to somersault. But I've never seen a craftsman like the puppeteer. If there were, I wouldn't have had to wait until today."

Just then, a long, narrow leaf-shaped boat came to a stop, much longer than the one that Shimi and the Grand Tutor had ridden in last time. The old boatman rowed, the pointed bow cutting through the water, but without making a sound. Only intermittent singing, accompanied by the endless lights, rolled in from afar.

This place is truly a paradise for indulging in a life of pleasure and debauchery. While ordinary people are blowing out their lamps and going to sleep, the carefree joy here is just beginning.

The Yan people had been to Nevernight before, but back then they were only focused on achieving their goal and had no time to appreciate the beautiful night. This time was different; they came with their brains. So, looking around, Yan Dian, sitting in the front row, turned around and asked, "Ami, you said someone was kissing, but I didn't see anything?"

Shimi said, "Don't rush, you'll only see it after you've entered the Ten Miles of Idleness, it's still a long way off."

Kissing is something the Yan people find hard to understand. Strangers can be quite interesting sometimes; they even gnaw on their eating utensils in their leisure time, wondering what special flavor they might discover. The less I understand, the more I enjoy watching, so I searched all the way. Unfortunately, there weren't many lovers strolling through the Ten Miles of Desolation today, and even after seeing the plaque for the Bronze Water Village, Yan Dian's wish remained unfulfilled.

The so-called Bronze Water Village is a winding waterside pavilion built of bronze, which can only be seen after passing through several sharp bends in the winding road. Because the water flow is too rapid and it is dangerous to cross, almost no one visits this place except those who are going for the Ghost Market.

The old waterworker escorted them to the waterside pavilion, gesturing forcefully to guide them forward. He then pointed to himself, indicating that he would wait there to ensure their safety.

Shi Mi nodded and led the three puppets towards the entrance. After walking for a while, she noticed that Ali Dao was actually hiding behind her, and she was immediately confused. "Are you scared?"

Ali Dao stammered, "Yes, the road is so dark, could there be ghosts?"

It's unheard of for a Yanren to be afraid of ghosts.

Shi Mi sighed, "It's dark, but there's a lantern. If you lift the lantern, you'll be able to see the road ahead."

Ali then remembered that he had a flashlight in his hand, and chuckled sheepishly, "I forgot for a moment."

Ran Dian shoved him with disdain, "You brag every day that you're a real man, but you're hiding behind a woman. How shameless of you."

So they changed formation, with Ali Dao at the front. The puppets without their mechanisms activated were like this: they had little fighting ability, were timid, and had to carefully test whether their feet were on water or soil before taking a single step forward.

However, the pitch-black darkness only extended to the very beginning of the passage; beyond that, the passage opened up dramatically. Completely different from what one might imagine, the ravine where the ghost market was located wasn't a craggy, damp place with jagged rocks. This place followed the style of the Bronze Water Fortress; the walls of the entire tunnel were made of bronze, cast with ferocious animal patterns. Torches were stuck in the walls on both sides, stretching straight ahead, the flames burning brighter at the far end, and the faint sounds of noisy conversations could be heard. Someone unaware of the true nature of the place would probably think it was just an ordinary market.

As the group approached the entrance, two burly men suddenly appeared, each about nine feet tall, with full beards and menacing appearances.

Ali Dao took a step back in fright, looked up at the two men, and said timidly, "We were introduced by a friend."

"Who?" the burly man asked without wasting any words.

“Madam Jie.” Ali Dao swallowed hard. “She’s the one who calls the shots at Nightless City.”

As expected, once they gave their names, the two men stopped making things difficult for them. They simply grabbed a crumpled piece of paper, slammed it on the table, and said, "Sign this waiver; you are responsible for your own life and death."

The scene was quite frightening. One by one, they stepped forward to sign and affix their fingerprints. Only after the last person finished writing did the bronze gate at the entrance of the ghost market rise heavily and slowly.

The four passed through the sluice gate, and the scene inside was breathtaking—a much larger world cast in bronze. On either side of the deep canal were two opposing Buddha faces, their identities indistinguishable, but their eyes were fierce and wrathful. And who would have thought that this underwater market was completely untouched by mud, its ground paved with massive bronze slabs? Neatly arranged bronze buildings lined both sides of the plaza, shops row upon row, each brightly lit. Inside, they displayed things never seen in the marketplace. Ancient mechanical arts were commonplace, but there were even things like dream-eating tapir embryos, painted skin lamps, and the First Emperor's dragon aura bottle…

"What's a dragon's breath bottle?" Ali Dao asked. "Is it a dragon's fart?"

All three looked at Shimi, since she was the most knowledgeable among the four. She carefully explained to them, "Legend has it that the Dragon Qi Bottle contains the last breath of the First Emperor before his death. It can be used to forge weapons and also to make people impervious to pain and incredibly strong."

Ran Dian grinned, "Isn't it just corpse aura? That aura is extremely poisonous."

"What is a dream tapir?" Ali Dao pointed to the green-glowing bottle. "Is it filled with a mouse or a cat?"

Shimi thought these Yanren should read more books, "The unborn fetus of the Dream Eater can make people have sweet dreams, in which you can give birth to your own child."

Ali Dao immediately roared, "What kind of man would I have a child!"

Just then, a voice suddenly came from the side, "It's all a lie, there's no such thing as a dream eater!"

Everyone turned to look, and the newcomer was a small, inconspicuous old man wearing a loose overcoat. He was also quite short. He tried his best to put on a kind smile, "But I really do have a way to give you a dream. Whether the dream is good or bad is up to you. As long as the price is right, you can use it yourself or someone else. If you want to confuse the dream with reality, that's no problem either."

Remembering Madam Jie's words that anyone who strikes up a conversation on the street is a fraudster, Shi Mi shook his head and said, "We don't want to dream. You should go and sell to someone else."

The old man clicked his tongue. "You don't trust me because I don't have a shop? The brighter the lights, the more ruthless they rip off customers, don't you know? On the contrary, people like me who go door-to-door doing business are honest business. Is this your first time in the Ghost Market? You don't know anything about the ways of the market."

His eloquent speech only garnered greater skepticism from the four men: "Does Your Excellency often peddle unrealistic dreams here?"

He said, "No, not really. I'm just short on cash lately, so I'm going back to the business to earn some money."

Yan Dian disliked the old man very much. "I'd rather buy a Dream Eater fetus than trust a peddler with no reputation."

The old man's beard curled up. "As expected, I've been living in seclusion for too long. There are actually people who don't know the name of the Nightmare Master."

All four were startled. "You're a puppeteer?"

The Nightmare Master agreed, “The nightmares that occur at night are not caused by external ghosts, but by illusions of the mind.” He then feigned modesty, “I can enter a dream with just a stick of incense. I am known as the Nightmare Master in the martial arts world, but I am unworthy of the title.”

Shi Mi then realized that this Yan was not the same as the other Yan; he was just a charlatan who created illusions and was even less credible.

So he waved his hand repeatedly, saying, "Our lifelong pursuit is to sleep soundly through the night without dreaming. We appreciate your kindness, but let's go and look around elsewhere."

The Nightmare Master's face immediately fell. "Blind fools! They don't know what's good for them!"

The four of them ran away with their heads in their hands, and although they were cursed at, they managed to escape, so it was actually worth it.

In short, the goal cannot be changed; the main focus is on finding a drug that can instantly turn a person into powder. However, after inquiring at several shops, both openly and secretly, they all shook their heads and said they didn't have any.

Finally, they found a shopkeeper who was willing to give directions. He said, "There is a medicine called Taotie Saliva. It is said to be able to dissolve human flesh and bones without leaving a trace. You can go and ask about it."

Then he pointed to a corner in the distance, where there was a small stall set up on the spot. The stall owner was sitting cross-legged on the ground, and it was obvious that he hadn't made a sale for a whole month.

The four rushed over excitedly, first to inquire about the medicine's effects before deciding to make a deal. However, after asking around for a long time, they learned that while the Gluttonous Saliva could dissolve corpses, it couldn't instantly obliterate flesh and bones; it would take about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. So their excitement was in vain, as there was no such medicine in the Ghost Market. Solving the case of the Grand Princess once again seemed a distant dream.

Yan Dian, hands on her hips, said, "Stop looking. In my opinion, the Grand Princess is the ghost."

Shi Mi's head ached, and he sighed, "How can you see a ghost in broad daylight? She was standing by the window, casting a very long shadow. Ghosts don't have shadows. Think of another reason."

The four of them began to wander aimlessly through the ghost market, which wasn't very long, at most a mile long. With no leads in the case and no money to spend, this trip was a classic case of arriving full of enthusiasm only to leave disappointed.

Just as I was feeling disheartened, I passed by a small painting stall set up in the corner of the house. The stall owner was a young scholar, fair-skinned and frail, who was holding a brush and sitting on a folding chair, painting human faces.

Looking at the goods on his stall, there were men, women, young and old. He realized he had met a fellow trader. He stopped to look at his brushstrokes. With each stroke, he felt a sense of déjà vu.

This is a human skin disguise technique. How could a person I've never seen before appear in the ghost market and use the puppeteer's ultimate skill so skillfully?

Determined to investigate, Shimi lifted his veil and said with a smile, "I want an old woman's face. Please use my appearance to deduce what I will look like forty years from now."

Upon hearing this, the young man carefully examined her features and said softly, "Young lady, you must place a deposit first. It's too late today. Come back in fifteen days to collect your money, and the transaction will be completed then."

Shimi took out a gold ingot and placed it next to his paint box. "I want to take it today, I can't wait until fifteen days later. Please expedite it for me, sir, I have to go on a long trip tomorrow, and I don't know when I will be able to return."

The young man looked at the heavy piece of gold, hesitated for a moment, and said, "If you have the patience, please wait a moment, young lady."

Shi Mi agreed, then sat down on the bamboo stool in front of the stall, carefully observing his every move. The more he looked, the more suspicious he became; the way he wielded the brush was exactly the same. Could it be that he had encountered a fellow student?

The young man, on the other hand, appeared calm and relaxed, focused on the sketches he was making, becoming somewhat absorbed in his work. He always had his left profile facing outwards, and even when discussing business, he would only slightly turn his head, so his entire face was not visible.

Unwilling to give up, Shi Mi glanced at the various floral ornaments on the table and pointed to the one on the far right, saying, "Please add this for me."

The old woman wanted floral decorations on her face? This was a very strange request, but for the sake of the money, the stall owner wouldn't object.

The young man turned around, but because of the distance, he had to turn back to retrieve it. In that instant, his right neck was revealed through his falling hair, and a silver needle was clearly sticking out behind his ear. He was actually a puppet!

Shi Mi was momentarily confused, even doubting whether she had seen wrong. She remembered clearly how many puppeteers the puppeteer had made, and he was definitely not among them. Moreover, this puppeteer was completely different from Ali Dao and others; he could draw human faces, converse freely, and possessed a distinct intelligence approaching that of a living person. How could such a puppeteer exist in this world!

Ran Dian and the others behind them also noticed, but the veils hanging from their hats covered their faces, so they couldn't see their shock.

Perhaps it was the intense gaze that made him uncomfortable, but he looked up at Shimi and chuckled softly, "Does the young lady really want to save face like an old woman? It's not too late to change your mind now."

Shi Mi was very certain, "I want the old woman." He paused and then tried to get closer, "Are you from Zhongdu, sir? My family runs a security escort agency, and our escorts often need to disguise themselves. If you're willing, you can design props for my family from now on. The salary will definitely not be lower than here. What do you say?"

Unfortunately, the other party was not interested. "Setting up a stall at the ghost market is only busy on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month. The rest of the time I have to take care of my elderly mother at home. Thank you for your kind offer, young lady."

Shimi sighed, "What a pity. May I ask your name, sir? How can I find out about you if I need to order masks again?"

“Whenever I set up my stall, I’ll always set it up here,” he said slowly. “My name is Fifth Hai, ladies, just call me Fifth.”

Fifth Sea—what a profound name! We've only heard of four seas, yet he's called Fifth Sea; it's as if he transcends the three realms and is outside the five elements. The person who named him must be an unfathomable master.

If one paints a human skin mask with utmost devotion, it doesn't take too long. Finally, it was finished before the market closed. Fifth Hai handed the mask to her and gave her a bottle of medicine, saying, "Just one drop is enough; apply it to the center of your forehead."

He acknowledged the error, carefully tucked the item into his sleeve, and then took his leave.

The four walked briskly towards the exit. Shimi asked in a low voice, "Did you see it?"

The three of them remained silent, only giving a muffled "hmm".

Shimi turned back to look at them in bewilderment. Behind the lifted veil were three dejected faces. Ali Dao was clearly shocked. "Why does he look so much smarter than us? He can even paint!"

How do we answer this question? Shimi said, "The functions of the puppeteers are all different. He specializes in drawing human skin masks. Everyone has their own expertise. You don't need to compare yourselves with him."

"So what is our specialty?" Yan Dian asked.

The expert listed the tasks: "There are many, such as moving goods, sweeping the yard, and cooking chicken soup. Most importantly, you are all very capable fighters; three of you are better than a thousand soldiers."

They were overjoyed. "We're so useful! Ah Mi is so lucky to have us!"

Shi Mi smiled and said yes, secretly relieved. But Fifth Sea truly puzzled her; who was behind it? Could the Grand Princess's fall be related to someone behind it all?

Therefore, it was very important to find out who was hiding in the shadows. She was also eager to find out where that person’s puppetry skills came from and what his relationship was with the puppeteers.

She had inquired beforehand and learned that the Ghost Market had only one entrance and exit. They could keep an eye on Fifth Sea and follow the trail. So they withdrew from the Bronze Water Village, had the old boatman stop the boat at a distance, extinguished the fishing lights on board, and waited for Fifth Sea to appear.

Before long, merchants from the ghost market emerged one after another, boarded boats, and went their separate ways in the darkness.

The old boatman was indeed very skilled at rowing; even with five people on board, he managed to keep up closely with the leaf-shaped boat in front. Deer Sea was vast, and they could dock at any point along the riverbank. Far from the city lights, the Fifth Sea's small boat finally reached the shore.

This was a secluded spot unique to Never-Sleeping City. While Zhongdu closed its markets after nightfall, Never-Sleeping City had no curfew. They watched from afar as Fifth Hai, carrying a single blue lantern, left the city and walked along the winding paths of the countryside.

The hem of his robe brushed lightly against the green grass, and dew dampened the hem of the robe.

The dim light moved slower and slower until it finally stopped.

"Why is this distinguished guest following me? Is there something you're unhappy with about the mask?" Fifth Sea had already noticed this, turned around, and looked at him coldly.

The four people slowly approached, and Shimi said, "I want to see your master. Please introduce me."

Fifth Hai sneered, "What master? What master? If the lady wants her gold back, I'll give it back to you."

As he spoke, he flicked his fingertips, and the gold shot swiftly toward Shimi.

Just as Shi Mi was about to take the bait, a guard from Jiuzhang Prefecture suddenly appeared, knocking the gold piece to the ground with a clang of his sword. Then, amidst the flashing blades, Fifth Hai finally pulled the pin from behind his ear. Like a lion or tiger trapped in a cage, he broke free of his shackles, unleashing a tremendous burst of power that flesh and blood could not withstand.

Lu Min's bodyguards were very powerful—very powerful to living people—but they were no match for the iron puppets. In just a few rounds, dozens of them had already fallen.

Seeing this, Ali Dao and Ran Dianyan Dian unleashed the silver needles behind their ears and charged forward with their knives. The battle between the puppeteers was swift as lightning. Shi Mi stood quietly on the path watching, knowing that the three of them alone were no match for this high-level puppetry.

As expected, the Yan people gradually lost their edge. Fifth Hai turned around and glanced back; his eyes, made of polished glass, gleamed brightly in the darkness, and Shi Mi knew that he had murderous intent towards her.

Fortunately, she was prepared. As he turned to attack her, she raised her hand and scattered countless folding springs. In an instant, iron pieces the size of soybeans expanded and reformed, riding the sweeping cool breeze, transforming into dozens of sword-wielding puppets that attacked him.

Puppets are not cyborgs; they are the simplest tools crafted. They are brightly colored, devoid of thought, incapable of retreat or feeling pain. Once they receive a command, they will willingly sacrifice themselves to complete it. Even with Fifth Sea's superior combat prowess, he was ultimately unable to withstand three cyborgs and dozens of puppets. While he was struggling to cope, Shi Mi, wielding a meteorite iron sword, thrust it straight at his back.

Every craftsman, no matter how skilled, has a fatal weakness. She observed him for a long time; his limbs, chest, and even head could withstand severe blows, but his back was the only area he instinctively avoided. If the meteorite iron sword in her hand were to touch his vital point, his entire body would disintegrate…

She suddenly remembered that the Grand Princess might have disappeared without a trace in this self-destructive manner. She had been painstakingly searching for the truth these past two days, but she never expected that the truth was actually so close at hand, within easy reach.

The sword tip, like an arrowhead, aimed precisely at the bullseye, but just before it struck, it was deflected by a straw hat that suddenly appeared.

Shi Mi sheathed his sword and laughed, his bright eyes and white teeth radiating a chilling aura. "You've arrived?"

The voice in the darkness was as cold as ice: "They have no compassion, but they have the methods of a Vajra. The people of Lingyin Mountain have always been like this, always ruthless and merciless."